Paintball Gun or 12-Gauge? Inside Army's Modded-Out Shotgun

The M26 Modular Accessory Shotgun System (above) is a 12-gauge that can be used alone or attached to an M4 carbine with a clamp (1). The clip (2) holds five lethal or nonlethal rounds. The barrel is 7-3/4-in.-long alloy steel, threaded to receive a device (3) that ensures a 3-in. gap from the muzzle when using breaching rounds to blast open doors. Troops tested the weapon's experimental predecessor in combat for a year, and reported trouble reaching the pump to reload. Designers switched to a straight-pull bolt action (4). Nearly 40,000 of the 4-pound, 3-ounce (stand-alone) shotguns will be delivered to the Army early next year.

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